Munde supporters turn violent at his funeral

Soon after Union minister Gopinath Munde was cremated in his native Parli town on Wednesday, hundreds of his supporters turned violent and torched a few vehicles, alleging there was a conspiracy behind the minister's death.

The supporters started shouting slogans and demanding a CBI probe even before Munde's mortal remains were taken to the open ground of the Vaidynath Sugar Mills, where the leader was consigned to flames on Wednesday afternoon.

Supporters go on a rampage at Munde's cremation

A senior BJP leader told HT from Parli that the mourners, who had become restless and angry in the wake of their leader's death, were repeatedly asked to maintain calm by Munde's eldest daughter Pankaja and other senior party leaders.

Munde, 64, was killed in a road accident in Delhi on Tuesday while on his way to Delhi Airport. His body was flown to Parli from Mumbai on Wednesday morning.

Breaking local traditions, Pankaja lit the funeral pyre of her father because she does not have a brother, who according to the Hindu tradition would have performed the last rites.

The family did not choose any other male from the family to perform the last rites. Pankaja, a legislator from Parli, is the eldest of three sisters. Their mother Pradya is a sister of late Pramod Mahajan.

Munde's trusted aide and legislator Prakash Dhondge and leader of an OBC organisation Hanumant Upre had on Tuesday sought an inquiry by the CBI.

The demand for a probe by the premier central investigating agency has also come from BJP state spokesperson Awdhoot Wagh, Republican Party of India chief Ramdas Athwale and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray.